Goal.com’s Tim Sturtridge brings you the most candid interview with Diego Maradona since Argentina booked their place at the World Cup...

Diego Maradona split the beans during a radio interview in Argentina in which the head coach revealed he has his starting line-up ready for his squad’s World Cup opener against Nigeria on June 12.

It was by the far the most candid interview the Argentina coach has given since his display in the press conference after his side reached the World Cup with a 1-0 win in Montevideo. Although this latest interview seems unlikely to get the World Cup winning captain a 55 day ban from FIFA it was no less intriguing.

Maradona spoke freely about who will be making his final squad, the troubles currently engulfing his beloved Boca Juniors plus his unfortunate dog bite. He also revealed that his starting XI for the Nigeria game will be: Romero; Otamendi, Demichelis, Samuel, Heinze; Jonas, Veron, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain or Tevez.

“It’s not nice to leave someone out who has helped us to get where we are," Maradona said. "The fact is that I can only take 23 players so I will have to make my choice. Argentina has so many great players, especially strikers. We must do what is best for a successful team.

“In Argentina we have many players who can do a job in different positions on the pitch, this helped me at the World Cups I played in. The World Cup is all over very quickly so you need players who are physically sound, versatility helps in this matter. One injury during the tournament usually finishes a player’s World Cup."

Maradona went on to speak about the back line and stated he is happy with the defenders he has to choose from.

"I have tried many full-backs, I had Emiliano Papa and Javier Zanetti but I have now settled for playing four centre-backs in defence. I’m very happy with Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Walter Samuel and Gabriel Heinze. The performance against Germany showed how good this group are together. There will be alternatives in the squad however such as Clemente Rodriguez.

The World Cup winner then touched on a plethora of topics including the flak Jonas Gutierrez has been receiving from the press and the players he deems vital to Argentina's cause.

"The newspapers have been unkind to Jonas Gutierrez but I have spoken with him and have been impressed with him at Newcastle. Angel Di Maria is also improving all the time after the tough trip we had to Bolivia.

"I already have Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastian Veron, Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. We have about 20 of the 23 names now.

"The attitude of the boys in the last game showed the spirit that we have in this team, it is a spirit that you’ll always find in Argentine football. The fact we went to Uruguay and won, we kept [Diego] Forlan very quiet that night. The World Cup is 30 days and we will be alert for any eventuality."

Maradona also spoke about the current problems at Boca Juniors and how he still yearns to play on the pitch.

“[Juan Roman] Riquelme will not talk because there is no real issue. Martin Palermo is the greatest scorer of all-time at Boca and this achievement is recognised throughout the world. Any issues between the two men will be settled. These things are best sorted out internally, lock them in a room and let them clear the air.

"For sure I want to be out there playing. I still have game every Thursday with Alejandro Mancuso [assistant coach] and I take it seriously. When you see the speed of [Javier] Mascherano and [Lionel] Messi or the leap of Demichelis and Samuel I would have to settle for a place on the bench."

Finally, Maradona spoke about violence in football and the dog bite he suffered recently.


“Now there are so many cameras and much more media that little issues can be exaggerated out of proportion. However, I believe that passion is one thing and violence is another. The violence now is not restricted to the stadiums. I turn on the news now and the first thing you see is a man dead. Whatever the problems I don’t think the passion for football in our country will ever die.

“The dog bite was all my fault. Bella was unwell at the time and I tried to carry her while she was sleeping to her bed. The dog must have been having a nightmare because it attacked me while it was still asleep. I still love the dog because it reminds me of my girls when they were babies.”